"Horses are a joy," says RSPCA Groom Nicky. "When
you're feeling a little bit down, just being around them
lifts your spirits."
These special animals need plenty of love and care to stay healthy
and happy - and that includes a large group of Welsh ponies living
on Gelligaer and Merthyr Common in Wales.
A 'common' is an area of land that people who have special rights
can use sometimes as a place where animals can roam and graze.
Sadly, some people just abandon their ponies on this common in
Wales and don't look after them. This is a problem because there's
not enough grass for them to eat, there are lots of hazards
that can cause injuries, and some ponies are sick
and not getting the vet care they need.
Helping out
The RSPCA works with other
animal welfare charities to help
these ponies.
"The adult ponies aren't used to
people and would suffer from
lots of stress if we tried to
remove them,"
RSPCA Head Equine
Vet Roxane tells us.
"So we're helping
them all live better
lives by removing
and rehoming
some youngsters."
If fewer ponies are living on the common, it's easier to give them
regular check-ups and they have more grass to eat.
"Young ponies can get used to change and can be trained to live
happy lives in forever homes," Roxane explains. "We remove ponies
once they've grown up with their families - when they're around 18
months old. Then we find them caring homes, making sure they'll
have the company of other ponies."
Rescue mission
Experts from the RSPCA and other animal charities helped rescue
66 ponies in 2023. Lots were rehomed. And last year, we helped
rescue another 30.
"One of our vets tells us which ponies we need to rescue,"
says RSPCA Inspector Christine, who's been working
with ponies on the common for 25 years.
"Another expert will give them medicine to
make them calmer. Then, the team will build
a pen around the ponies, and move the
whole structure towards our trailers."
Some ponies went to stay with our
friends at World Horse Welfare and
Blue Cross centres, and others went
to our own special equine centres.
Left: Equine experts
round up horses on
the common
Bottom: RSPCA Groom
Nicky spends some
quality time with Jack
Did you know?
'Pony' is a term for a small
horse that measures
148cm or smaller from
the floor to their shoulders
PrOtEcTiNg pOnIeSHow our rescuers are saving abandoned ponies
RSPCA special
8 animalaction.co.uk